“If a human being closes her eyes hard enough and for long enough, she can remember pretty well everything that has made her happy.”

Britt-Marie is an eccentric 63 year old who has suddenly found herself alone for the first time in, well, all of her adult life. She's left her cheating husband and stumbled her way into the position of a caretaker in Borg's recreation center (soon-to-be defunct).

Underneath Britt-Marie's socially awkward comments, obsession with cleaning products, and slightly brittle exterior is a deep desire to be known by others, to leave a mark on her community. She's been controlled and afraid most of her life - this is her journey of stepping into herself and finding her voice.

In Backman style, we've got a peculiar set of characters that become deeply loveable and easy-to-root for as you get to know them (the children in particular were a real strength). It's a relatively quick, simple story but it packs so much depth and charm.

There were so many splendid, poignant moments of community and connection.

“One morning you wake up with more life behind you than in front of you, not being able to understand how it’s happened.”

CW: grief, death, alcoholism, gun violence, infidelity, child death, toxic relationship, death of a parent, violence, emotional abuse, ableism, fatphobia, mental illness

I can only compare to A Man Called Ove, but Britt-Marie Was Here dripped with Backman's unique style and voice, which I love. As with Ove, it's an uphill climb trying to understand the characters, but the payoff is sweet. It didn't get me in the feels as much as Ove, so it's only getting four stars, but I did love it and would recommend!